Top 4 Tips for Diabetic Eye Care

Patients who have been diagnosed with diabetes have a variety of concerns that they need to address. Not only do they need to monitor their condition and stay on top of their diet to keep their insulin in check, but they need to maintain their health for the protection of their vision. Patients with diabetes are at a much higher risk of developing many different eye diseases, including, but not limited to:

• Glaucoma
• Cataracts
• Diabetic retinopathy

Patients can take proper steps to preserve their vision and greatly reduce their chances of developing debilitating eye diseases with the help of their ophthalmologist. Skoki, IL area patients are welcome to visit Dr. Stuart P. Sondheimer to discuss the following tips for maintaining good vision with diabetes:

• Visit the ophthalmologist at least once a year for an examination. Vision examinations are just as important as routine evaluations with your primary care physician. Eye diseases linked to diabetes often don’t show symptoms in the early stages. During an eye examination with dilation, the doctor can examine the optic nerve and retina for any signs of damage before there are changes to your vision.
• Monitor and control your blood sugar levels. Many patients are unaware of how blood sugar levels can impact their eyes. With high levels of blood sugar, the shape of the lens in the eye can change, and blood vessels can be damaged.
• Monitor and control your cholesterol and blood pressure. Both of these conditions can contribute to the development of various eye disease and should be monitored for overall health and wellness.
• Stop smoking cigarettes. Patients who have an increased risk of diabetic retinopathy should give up tobacco to reduce their risk of developing diabetes-related eye diseases. Smoking can also impact overall health, and by quitting, patients often experience an improvement in their quality of life.

Work with an ophthalmologist to learn more about diabetic eye care

If you have been diagnosed with diabetes and want to speak to a professional about the increased risk of developing problems with vision, we welcome you to book an appointment with Dr. Stuart P. Sondheimer of the Skoki, IL area today. Our doctor can work with patients to help them better understand the link between diabetes and vision, and find ways to control their condition to improve their eyesight and maintain healthy vision for longer. The practice can be reached for an appointment at (847) 677-2794 and is conveniently located at 9150 Crawford Avenue, Suite 201.